bigugli

Joulupukki brought me the necessities of winter living.

 

Warm socks

longjohns

warm clothes

a toque and gloves

ice fishing jigs

 

More importantly, a family together under one roof, and day 2 of the feast.

Our Christmas was a season, not just one or 2 days. it started with the Santa Claus parade. Cutting a fresh tree. Going to see the windows at Simpsons and Eatons in downtown Toronto, and seeing Santa there for the annual picture. There was carol singing and Christmas concerts at school where we sang real carols. At the Ex, in the Automotive building, they used to have a Winter Wonderland. The entrance was done up like a castle, but one year it was done up as Captain Crunch's ship the year they first brought out the cereal with crunchberries. You also got to see Uncle Bobby, Blinky, and ride a train through Santa's candy mines.

Our Christmases were a story book. Christmas eve was a Finnish affair. Gram would have spent weeks shopping and preparing for that feast. From about 7 in the evening, til 3 in the morning, there was a parade of family and friends through our door. Me, being the oldest, did coat duty for the guests when I was older.

The drinks flowed freely. You drank beer in quarts at Christmas, not some wee stubby pop. Us kids even got to have a bit of the Heering or aqvavit for toasts when the stepdad ( stiff anglo type) wasn't looking. There were 2 massive tables of food. On the first table would be ham and corned brisket or flank steak, and meatballs. There would be a mountain of coldcuts and cheeses, devilled eggs, veggies and dips, crackers, sil, etc, etc,.....

On the second table were the goodies. Right smack in the middle was this huge bowl of trifle. It would take us 2-3 day to finish it off. There was pulla, coffee cakes, cookies, squares, Christmas cake, tarts, etc....

As in the old country, we opened a couple of presents that evening. One of which was a new pair of home made PJ's or a housecoat. I used to have this brown inflatable hassock, that was my seat, for these occasions

Christmas was typically North American, and morn came real early. Stocking hung on the door or bed post to keep us occupied for a while. We were not allowed out of our rooms til Mom or Gord knocked on the door. We did not get a mountain of gifts, some presents were the usual socks, shirts, sweaters,but there was some good stuff that we cherished.

A few of our Christmases were lean. On those years, the firefighters, gave us Christmases to remember. The one year, we were to go to the station where they were hosting a party for the kids. My little brothers went, but I was stuck at home with the mumps . They came home with the biggest parcels I had ever seen. I got this set of army men that was out of this world back then. I still remember every piece. It came with 2 tanks, a halftrack, 2 jeeps, a truck, a spring loaded field piece, and 200 men. I played with those until I learnt how to blow up the tanks .

Afternoon came with the usual turkey dinner. There were many times where I was so stuffed with the Christmas eve leftovers, that I had no room left for the next dinner.

On the record player we listened to "sing along with Mitch", "The Robert Shaw choir", Bing, and "Favourite Christmas melodies by the Grenadier Guards", for days on end. On TV there was always some special on during prime time. Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Red Skelton, Peanuts, etc... Christmas day had only Christmas programming.

IT was a special and cherished time. Something we cannot repeat in our politically correct and modern society.

My fave happened at the Seaway mall.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, me bye.

Looking good Bruce. Happy Holidays to you and your gang. Question though...that bottle of laker in the last pic? Is that for lubricating the baker or is it a cookie ingredient?

The beer went into the fish batter last night.

It has been a busy week in this household. So much that has to be done in advance of the feasting. Off to a specialty shop to get gravidlax, 3 types of sil, hard rye, and cheeses. Now in Finnish and Scandinavian households, All the best goodies are saved for this holiday. So we had to make cookies.

bread

A wee break for some early ice fishing

more bread, Pulla

And a mountain of more cookies.

Along with that there was peanut brittle, turnip casserole, creamed onions, etc...... to be readied today.

Takes a lot to be ready for 3 straight days of feasting and an open door to all who venture forth.

I have my puolukka and elderberry brandy in good supply so I may raise a glass or more to you all and wish good health and a Merry Christmas to one and all.

 

Hyyvaa Joulua

Was a wonderful little fella you have there. he looks so alert and happy.

Your right Mr B. Things aren't the same from Christmases past. We don't live in Mom and Dad'e house, the guests have changed, kids grown up.

The flavour and tone of the season has changed. No more coming and going with a glass of cheer at each stop. There would be 40-50 people stopping at our home to avail themselves of some old fashioned hospitality and friendship on Christmas eve.

There are no more carolers and "Sally Ann" bands on the street corners. Then there is all this politically correct bumpf.

Long and short, regardless of the trivial and commercial nonsense, no matter what the year has dealt us, what matters most is how you keep Christmas in your heart.

 

Gotta run. Still got a full day's Christmas baking to finish.

All the pics of me as a wee angler are with my mother.

Here's a couple.

 

Late 70's

Fish cleaning duties in the early 80's

A bit fuzzy taking pics of pics.

Great shots.

Not a lot of truly reputable tradesmen out there any more. The last subdivision I oversaw, we had to replace nearly all of our trades more than once in a 2 year period. The good ones don't work for cheap either.

Oh the joys of parenting. If asked to do it all again tomorrow, you wouldn't hesitate for a second.

 

The grandkids are cute, by the way.

I'm just jealous

Lookin Good!

Have you given Nova Scotia Tourism a gander. They've a good site, complete with live chat. They usually will mail you a load of info to browse over as well.

How many here camped out at the Roxy on a Friday night.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ff0cOPSpVA

 

Now that was wild.

Enough of the past. The sound and magic of music is well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Lets just say, they have changed,and I for one,can still liten to some,or is that watch some.LOL

 

Cant live in the past for ever,or can we???????

 

 

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Not like we didn't have musical theatrics in our heyday.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYKjGvVSTGA

 

With the exception of girl george, the music was far better. GAGA is no more than a cheap b grade soft porn to music, and I saw better shows working the old 212

His daddy wore fur all the time.

Speaking of Beatles. Only 2 albums ever really moved me as gotta haves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGcVVIwRaEQ&feature=fvsr

it contained some really new sounds for the time.

 

The other is from my fave Beatle movie.

amazing thing about growing up in the 60's and 70's was that music was a central part of every day life. And the music, for the most part, carried a good vibe.

Talk about bringing up old memories. Like watching the SOUUUUUUUUUUUUL Train

Was a big fan of Billy, the 5th Beatle...

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un63LEAN22E&feature=related

I,ll take Cash hands down G. HAGN bud.

 

Almost forgot about this one,,,,,,,,,

 

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And to add,,,,,,,

 

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Winter of 76-77 was a great time for unique sounds. Boston, Kansas, Roderick Falconer, Al Stewart, Doc Buzzard, Songs in the key of life.....

 

This is a bit of a long one.

 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/5662622/mike_oldfield_tubular_bells_mindsoft/

 

Few ever listen to the flipside, which better exhibits his versatility.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOjIaydQuQ

Ugli, Brian...

 

Tell me what version you prefer of this same song.. I am a big Nine Inch Nails fan... But I prefer Johnny's version ALOT more.. Alot more powerful in my opinion

 

Have a listen..

 

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G

Johnny's version hands down.

Don't know if I like this version

 

or Johnny Nash's cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKJShV_8urE

I don't know either Billy...or is it Bob ?? ...but I also doubt very much that the Navy would want a 1/4 mile long carrier stuck mid-continent between locks with all the whaco terrorist types just sitting waiting for such an easy target.

Sadly it is a risk the USN runs any time they visit a foreign port. It had happened back during one of their middle east interventions. Successfully bombing the USS Cole in the port of Aden in 2000.